Now, let’s read what John starts Revelation chapter one with. We’re going to see the Holy Spirit and the Trinity.

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Rev. 1: 4 John,

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To the seven churches in the province of Asia:

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Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

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To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

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7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,”
   and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;
   and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”
So shall it be! Amen.

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8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

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We know Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Jesus loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood. Compare Revelation 1 verse 7 and 8, Revelation 22 verse 12 and 13, and Matthew 24 verse 30.

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Rev. 22: 12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

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Mt. 24: 30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.

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Jesus is, who was, He was here as the Messiah, the suffering servant. Jesus is, who is, Jesus is now at the right hand of God the Father. Jesus is, who is to come. At his 2nd coming, he is coming with the clouds, and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”

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Chapter one verse 8, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Here sounds like it is referring to God the Father, but we just read with Revelation chapter 22 verse 13 Jesus said, all this was Jesus speaking, 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Jesus referred to himself as the Lord God, the Almighty, “who is, and who was, and who is to come.

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Now look closer at how this started in chapter one verse 4 and 5, Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ. Verse 5 says, and from Jesus Christ.

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We see here that grace and peace is from the Father and the Son, and from the seven spirits. But with chapter 22 verse 13 Jesus said, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End and chapter one verse 8, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Again, Jesus referred to himself as the Lord God, the Almighty. Don’t forget what we read Jesus told Philip and the disciples from John 14 verses 7-9. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Also, John 12: 44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me.

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Read what Thomas said to Jesus when Jesus appeared to them after his resurrection.

 

John 20: 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

 

Again, it appears that when Jesus said, John 10 verse 30, I and the Father are one, he meant more than He and the Father are one in agreement. But we’ve been seeing there is the Father and the Son. As I said above, we can’t begin to explain and understand this. But Jesus said it.

 

The Seven spirits:

 

The seven spirits of God before his throne is a reference to the Holy Spirit, the total, complete, fullness of the Holy Spirit. Rev. 3:1, 4:5, 5:6, Zech. 4. This fullness is in Jesus. Colossians 1: 19For God (the Father) was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him.

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Colossians 2, 9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) lives in bodily form.

 

Isa. 11:2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—
   the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
   the Spirit of counsel and of might,
   the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—

 

The Spirit of truth, John 14:17, 15:26, 16:13, 1 John 4:6.

The Spirit of holiness, Romans 1:4.

The Spirit of wisdom and revelation, Ephesians 1:17.

The Spirit of grace. Hebrews 10:29.

The Spirit of glory. 1 Peter 4:14.

The Spirit of prophecy. Revelation 19:10.

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Rev. 3:1 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write:

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These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.

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Rev. 4:5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.

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Rev. 5: 6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

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Here we see two different descriptions of the seven spirits of God. We know the Lamb is Jesus. We see a symbolic reference to Jesus in having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God. The Holy Spirit comes from Jesus and God the Father. John 15: 26 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.

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The number seven is used repeatedly in the Bible to indicate completeness or perfection. From the Biblical perspective, the number 7 is the number for God. The seven horns represent Jesus’ complete, total authority and kingship. The seven eyes represent his all-seeing. Here we see the seven eyes are the seven spirits of God, the complete perfect Spirit of God. We see the seven spirits, which have seven eyes, are sent out into all the earth. ‘The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth’. We see Jesus has complete total power and control over all the earth. We see Jesus’ Omnipresence. We see his Omniscience. The seven eyes are the seven spirits of God. The seven eyes represent the Holy Spirit of God.

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Zech. 4: 10 “Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the LORD that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?

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Hebrews 4: 12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.

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In chapter 4 we see the Holy Spirit described as seven lamps. The Seven Spirits of the seven lamps before His throne identifies the Holy Spirit of the New Covenant, the Church age. Thus, the Seven Spirits of the seven lamps would mean the perfect, complete Spirit, the fullness of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

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The Holy Spirit:

 

We see the Holy Spirit is described as a person, not an active force or energy. Here are just a few scriptures that refer to the Holy Spirit of God as he, his, who, whom, grieved, speaking, teaching, hearing, being our advocate, or comforter, helper or counselor, interceding for us, having fellowship with him. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. The Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts. We see he was involved with creation, gave us life. We’re told that no one knows the thoughts of God except the Holy Spirit of God. Thus, he is co-equal with the Father and the Son. We’re also told the Holy Spirit knows the future, what is yet to come. All these are descriptions of a person, not some kind of energy or active force.

 

Isaiah 63:10 Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit.

 

Eph. 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

 

2 Sam. 23:2 “The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.

 

Ezekiel 11:5 Then the Spirit of the LORD came on me, and he told me to say: “This is what the LORD says:

 

Mark 13:11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

 

Luke 12:12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”

 

John 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

 

John 15:26 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.

 

John 16: 7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove (convict) the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. .. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you (what is yet to come). 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

 

Some translations Advocate – Comforter, Helper or Counselor.

 

1 Cor. 12: 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. … 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

 

Acts 1:16 and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, 

 

Acts 28:25 They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet:

 

Heb. 3:7 So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts

 

Heb. 10:15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:

 

Rom. 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

 

1 Cor. 2:11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

 

Acts 5: 3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”

 

You cannot lie to energy or an active force or any kind of object. Did you notice in verse 4 who we’re told they lied to. “You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” We see here Peter recognized the Holy Spirit as a person, he recognized the Holy Spirit as God.

 

Acts 13: 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

 

We see here the Holy Spirit is quoted directly. You cannot quote an energy, active force or any kind of object. We also see the Holy Spirit has called them, “I, the Holy Spirit, have called them”. I, in the first person.

 

Job 33:4 The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

 

Compare Job 33 verse 4 with Genisis 1 and 2.

 

Gen. 1: 26  Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness,

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Gen. 2:7 Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

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By the way, the Hebrew word for Spirit is rûach roo'-akh Strongs H7307 From H7306; wind; by resemblance breath, that is, a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; Strongs H7306 A primitive root; properly to blow, that is, breathe;

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Now look at this, Acts 2: 1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound (like) the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. … 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit. Acts 2: 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. .. The Holy Spirit of the New Covenant. John 15:26 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—

 

The Trinity:

 

With Revelation 1 verse 4 and 5 we see the Trinity, that grace and peace is from God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Now, since the day of Pentecost, we have the fullness of God the Father and God the Son in the Holy Spirit.

 

2 Cor. 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

 

We see with Genisis 1:1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. God, Hebrew 'ĕlôhı̂ym el-o-heem' Strongs H430, Plural of H433; specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; H433 the deity: - God

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Now look at this, Gen. 1: 26 Then God said, ('ĕlôhı̂ym el-o-heem') “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, … Let us, in our. Plural. The Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. With Gen. 1 verse 2 we see the Holy Spirit. ‘And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters’. The Holy Spirit was involved with creation. Gen. 2:7 Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. John 15:26 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father— Acts 2: 1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. … 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit.

 

The Bible from the New Testament as well as from the Old Testament tells us of the Trinity of God. As I said above, can’t begin to explain or understand this. We are told that there is only one God and he exists in, has revealed himself in the persons of, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. One God but three persons. We see this right from the beginning with Genesis chapter one. God is, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is the doctrine of the Trinity.

 

God is not the person of Father at one moment, the person of the Son at one moment, or the person of Holy Spirit at one moment. God is the person of Father, the person of the Son and the person of the Holy Spirit at the same time. Three distinct persons. A good example of seeing this is with Jesus’ baptism. We see the Father, Son and Holy Spirit present at the same time. We see the Holy Spirit descending on the Son and the Father speaking.

 

Luke 3: 21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

 

All three persons of the Godhead have eternally existed.

 

Romans 1: 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

 

Because you can’t understand this doesn’t mean it isn’t true. We know we have a body, but we are told we are a soul and spirit. Do you understand this. Hebrews 4: 12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

 

Do you understand this. I mentioned this earlier. Just like we’re told, when a man and woman are married, they become one, but they are still two separate beings.  See also Mt. 19:5, Mk. 10:8, Eph. 5:31.

 

Gen. 2: 23 The man said,

“This is now bone of my bones
   and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called ‘woman,’
   for she was taken out of man.”

24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

 

I heard an analogy that might make it a little understandable. Take the Sun. There’s the Sun, the Sun has light and it has heat. All three exist together but they are separate. One does not exist without the other. There would be no light without the Sun. No heat without the Sun or light. Heat is not the Sun. Light is not the Sun. But heat and light come from the Sun. There would be no light or heat without the Sun. The Sun is the source of the light and heat. All three came into being at the same time. The Sun cannot be the Sun without it’s light and heat. In this analogy the Sun would be the Father, light would be the Son and heat would be the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 1: 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being,. There would be no Father without the Son, no Son without the Father. They are dependent on each other. You cannot be a father without a son, you cannot be a son without a father. You become a father when you have begotten a son, you become a son when you have been begotten by a father. Both become father and son at the same time.

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Early Church Fathers on the Trinity, one God in three persons.

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The scriptures should be our ultimate source and authority. We have seen from the scriptures God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

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What did the early church fathers believe and teach?

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Those that don’t believe in the Trinity or that Jesus is God, Jehovah, claim that the Trinity is from Pagan religions and was not believed or taught by the early church fathers. Well, here is just a few of the early church fathers.

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The Deity of Jesus: The two natures of Jesus, both God and man.

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Ignatius (AD 50-117)

The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians: Chapter 18

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For our God, Jesus Christ, was, according to the appointment of God, conceived in the womb by Mary, of the seed of David, but by the Holy Ghost. He was born and baptized, that by His passion He might purify the water.

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Justin Martyr (AD 100-165)

Dialogue with Trypho: Chapter 128

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"And that Christ being Lord, and God the Son of God, and appearing formerly in power as Man, and Angel, and in the glory of fire as at the bush, so also was manifested at the judgment executed on Sodom, has been demonstrated fully by what has been said."

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Melito of Sardis (AD 180)

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For the deeds done by Christ after His baptism, and especially His miracles, gave indication and assurance to the world of the Deity hidden in His flesh. For, being at once both God (and) perfect man likewise, He gave us sure indications of His two natures: of His Deity, by His miracles during the three years that elapsed after His baptism; of His humanity, during the thirty similar periods which preceded His baptism, in which, by reason of His low estate as regards the flesh, He concealed the signs of His Deity, although He was the true God existing before all ages.

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Irenaeus (AD 180)

Against Heresies Book III, Chapter 19, 2

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For I have shown from the Scriptures, that no one of the sons of Adam is as to everything, and absolutely, called God, or named Lord. But that He (Jesus) is Himself in His own right, beyond all men who ever lived, God, and Lord, and King Eternal, and the Incarnate Word, proclaimed by all the prophets, the apostles, and by the Spirit Himself, may be seen by all who have attained to even a small portion of the truth.

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Now, the Scriptures would not have testified these things of Him, if, like others, He had been a mere man. But that He had, beyond all others, in Himself that pre-eminent birth which is from the Most High Father, and also experienced that pre-eminent generation which is from the Virgin, the divine Scriptures do in both respects testify of Him: also, that He was a man without comeliness, and liable to suffering; that He sat upon the foal of an ass; that He received for drink, vinegar and gall; that He was despised among the people, and humbled Himself even to death and that He is the holy Lord, the Wonderful, the Counsellor, the Beautiful in appearance, and the Mighty God, coming on the clouds as the Judge of all men; -all these things did the Scriptures prophesy of Him.

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Tertullian (AD 155-240)

Against Praxeas: Chapter 13

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Besides, if, from that perfect knowledge which assures us that the title of God and Lord is suitable both to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost,

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but I shall follow the apostle; so that if the Father and the Son, are alike to be invoked, I shall call the Father "God," and invoke Jesus Christ as "Lord." But when Christ alone (is mentioned), I shall be able to call Him "God," as the same apostle says: "Of whom is Christ, who is over all, God blessed for ever."

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We see from the scriptures that there is God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, three separate persons but they are one.

 

The LORD, Jehovah, our God is one.

 

Duet. 6:  4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.

 

The LORD is yehôvâh yeh-ho-vaw' – Jehovah. God is 'ĕlôhı̂ym el-o-heem' used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God;

 

Jesus is the fullness of the Godhead.

 

Colossians 2: 9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, NIV

Colossians 2: 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. KJV

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1 John 5: 7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.

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2 Cor. 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

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